The points of issue
First US edition, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1948 (the post-apocalyptic novel cast partly as a film scenario). The US edition precedes the UK Chatto & Windus edition of 1949.
Is this the true first?
US Harper & Brothers 1948 is the true first; UK Chatto & Windus followed in 1949.
Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No book-club issue of the true first.
Frequently asked questions
Is my copy of Ape and Essence a first edition?
Look for these first-edition points: First US edition, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1948 (the post-apocalyptic novel cast partly as a film scenario). The US edition precedes the UK Chatto & Windus edition of 1949.
How do I tell the first printing from a later one?
Check the copyright page for the publisher's first-printing convention and confirm the points above. US Harper & Brothers 1948 is the true first; UK Chatto & Windus followed in 1949.
Is the book-club edition the same as the first?
No book-club issue of the true first.
I have a first edition of Ape and Essence — what should I do?
If you're clearing books, New Mexico Literacy Project offers free pickup in Albuquerque, any condition, and makes sure collectible copies aren't lost. To sell, see the author's collecting guide. Either way, nothing valuable ends up in a landfill.